Craig Landale – the number one men’s fashion blogger

Craig Landale continues to dominate the men’s fashion and lifestyle scene with his blog MenswearStyle. Topping the Men’s Lifestyle ranking and winning two awards at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017 – Best Men’s Lifestyle Blog and Best UK Blog – now Craig has been named number one in the Top 10 Men’s Fashion Blogs.

We spoke to Craig about his favourite designers, working collaboratively on experiential PR campaigns and why he no longer reads the competition.

What makes your blog unique?
MenswearStyle is unique because it brings an informative but light-hearted voice to the menswear industry, covering not just the high street and high designers but start-ups and crowdfunded brands too. We bring an authentic and honest outlook to current trends as well as bringing focus to important movements such as sustainable fashion. The blog isn’t the only way of consuming our publication as we also have a Podcast and Street Style gallery, as well as a shop which lists thousands of products from online retailers.

Will Men’s Fashion ever catch up with Women’s Fashion?
I don’t think men will ever consume fashion in the same way women do. The average woman is more inclined to buy for the season and dispose of prior season’s garments, whereas the average man is looking to buy higher quality items with an interesting story that is expertly manufactured and will last years to come. The number of designers, collaborations and developments within the industry is certainly gaining traction though.

Who is your favourite ever designer?
Oliver Spencer is my favourite. The style of clothing he makes basically sums up my taste in clothing. It’s relaxed, understated and everyday comfortable wearable pieces that fit really well. I always look forward to his fashion shows each season in London too. I like how he uses non-model guys (usually his friends) mixed in with the usual runway models too.

What up-and-coming designers will be tomorrow’s stars?
That’s a tough one, If I knew this I’d be in a different job but I’ve recently interview Genevieve Sweeney for MenswearStyle and I really like her British-made knitwear. Her designs are so interesting, yet not too overbearing or trend-led. Definitely a brand to watch for the coming AW18 season.

What’s the best fashion show for men?
I always prefer catwalk shows where the garments are wearable. Some designers go for the theatrical element to a show and that’s ok, but I personally don’t like it. I love menswear for what it is and I like to see it being worn in the way it is intended to be in normal life. In fact, when I think back to my favourite ever runway show, it was back when LFWM was LCM and Hackett put on a show with a live orchestra and it gave me goose bumps. It made me proud to be working within the British menswear industry.

Shoes or watch?
I really like to wear a good watch and I find them a bit trickier to buy compared to shoes. With shoes I’d always suggest a British made Brogue or Oxford as an essential, but watches are completely evolving. I really like what Shinola and Uniform Wares are doing at the moment.

Beards: in or out?
They’re still in and show no signs of going anywhere just yet. Even in high-summer you should expect to still see them. However, they will be trimmed down with reduced thickness to avoid being itchy and uncomfortable.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I run the UK’s best blog according to Vuelio and I’m also a CIM qualified marketeer. Not only do I love menswear but I like interiors and homeware too.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve worked on?
Over the six years of running MenswearStyle there have been many, but a few recent standouts are Gore-Tex where I headed out to Berlin to see their most recent developments in garment technology, Volvo where I test-drove their new XC40 car in Barcelona and Slaters where I styled two partywear inspired outfits for a London photoshoot and was interviewed for their in-store magazine.

What other blogs do you read?
I’m actually trying a new thing at the moment where I don’t look at my competition. I had read that if you pay too much attention to the competition you start to replicate them and you lose your creativity and all-important unique angle that gives you your difference and sets you apart from the crowd. I seem much happier for doing it and an unnecessary pressure has been lifted as a result.

Craig and his award-winning blog are both listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database along with thousands of other bloggers, vloggers, journalists and opportunities.